On December 18th, 45 years ago, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held. In the same year, Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, or what is known today as SUIBE, resumed enrollment at No.620 Gubei Road and was officially approved to be reopened by the State Council two years later.
On December 18th, SUIBE Annual Back-to-School Activity with the theme of Siyuan: Remembering Youth was successfully held for the 40th anniversary of graduatesin 1978 and 1979. Wang Rongming, SUIBE president and president of the Alumni Association of SUIBE, Zhang Yiguo, vice chairman of the University Council and secretary of SUIBE Discipline Inspection Committee, as well as leaders and representatives of veteran teachers from SUIBE schools attended the meeting.
Zhou Hanmin, an alumnus of the class 1978 and a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee was the first speaker. He said that he was pleased to attend the gathering which he was the first to propose and ultimately organized on this chosen date. Calling everyone present witnesses to, participants in, promoters of and contributors to reform and opening up,he encouraged them to love the nation and make due contributions to itsprosperity. He stressed the importance for them to love their alma mater. No matter where theygo, they should bear their alma mater in their hearts. He demanded them to love their teachers, hoping everyone can continue to inherit the spirit SUIBE teachers. He also encouraged them to cherish their friendship with their alumni.
On behalf of the university, Wang Rongming extended a warm welcome to the alumni for their returns. He introduced the basic situation and achievement of the university’svarious undertakings to the alumni. He said that the reform and development of the university is in an important strategic period. He requested the Alumni Association to further improve its sharing mechanism and promote the transformation and quality of its work. He also demanded the association to build greater synergy for win-win progress, integrate high-quality resources inside and outside the university, and promote mutual benefit and coordinated development between the university and alumni, and between alumnus and alumnus.
A simple donation ceremony was held at the meeting. Xu Guolin from the Class of 1979, presented four vases he collected to the university, and Wang accepted the gifts on behalf of SUIBE.
Translated by Pan Qiaomin